Holding device.



G.P.GHUROH.

HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1911.

- Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

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HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5

1,041,028. Patented Oct. 15,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1 o o 0 C Q o 0 H15 WITNESSES: VENTOR C.F.CHURCH.

HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1911.

1,041,028. Patented 006.15, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

. L I 7a 7a \72 73 8B9 E m as v U 67 69 ATT EY UNITED STATES CHARLES I. CHURCH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15,1912.

Application filed September 5, 1911. Serial No. 647,682.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. CHURCH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holding Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to holdingdevices.

It particularly relates to devices for holding objects while they are being operated upon or manipulated, such as when they are rubbed, polished, covered, coated, turned, spun and the like.

The invention may be contained in many forms of construction. Of the many forms of such structures, I have selected one as an example, and will describe and illustrate it, to show that the invention contained in them is practical and that the structures are operative. Devices for holding objects heretofore used in the arts where the objects are to be securely held -while being operated upon, have a clampmg means, or screws or Jna'ils or some other securing l means which injures, cuts or impresses t e object and which in the work has to be rectified or covered or cared for, such as a benchdog which penetrates the end of a board and canhold the object against movement in but one direction, or a vise which squeezes the object. and causes the corners of the vise to mar the surface of the object, or a chuck to which the objects are secured by screws or bolts or clamps, while in the devices containing my invention, these objectionable features are entirely removed.

The particular structure selectedas an example of the constructions containing the invention is shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a pneumatic chuck which contains my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates a bench dog or other holding device. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a si a1 device.

the pulleys 6. 10 is a face plate which is secured to the shaft 8. The face late is rovided with a tubular asket 17 coated 1n a recess 18 in the face 0 the plate. The space in front of the plate and within the area of the gasket may be connected through the shaft to a system of pipes or to the air tight receptacle 19 which gives capacity to the system. This permits uniformity of operations of the system or any of its parts. The system of pipes or the receptacle or both, as

Fig. 1, 8 is a hollows aft rotated by' the case may be, is connected to the air pump 39 which pumps the air out of the system and greatly reduces the interior air pressure to about one to four pounds to the s uare inch. The volume of the pipes or o the receptacle in the system gives the ca acity to the system for it requires a great eal of air, which may enter into the system by leakage or in the use of the machines in removing the work or in placing the work on or holdin the work on the machines to cause the interior pressure to rise a material amount. A reat deal of air is required to fill the interlor of the system even thou h the pumps are not operatin to raise t e interior pressure per pound 1f once the air is removed. Air may thus be drawn from agreat many objects and there may be cons1 erable leakage without materially alterway cock and when turned it lets air into the pipe and into the space between the cock and the work or the object placed upon the holdin device. The air entering the space forme between the plate and the object raises the firessure on the plate side of the object unt it is equal to the atmospheric pressure whereupon the object may be merely picked of]? from the device. The volume between the two and the volume of the connecting pipe between the cock and the device being small this requires scarcely a measureable length of time it being so short. Another object may then be laced on the device and the cock opened w ereu on it is immediately held by the suction o the capacity.

In Fig. 1 is shown such a device. 8 is a hollow shaft rotated by the pulleys 6. 10 .is a face plate secured to the shaft 8. The face plate -is provided with a tubular gasket 17 located in a recess 18. The space in front of the plate is connected through a shaft tothe receptacle 19 which gives capacity to the system. A coupling 22 efi'ec- 110 tu'ally completes the connect-ion between the pipe 120 and the space formed between 1 the plate and the ob ect. A three-way cock opens and closes the pipe passage-way be- 5 tween the device and the capacity of the system or with the outside air. v

When the objects are placed on the face plate and the cock is turned, the gasket is compressed and the space between the late and the object placed on the gasket is sealed. The compression and the conseqigent flattening of the gasket holds the o ject in position and prevents any lateral movement of the objectrelative to the plate. In Fig. 2 a standard 41 is shown having a holding-device on it adapted to hold objects in a horizontal position. A plate 42 1s secured to the top of the standard. The surface 43 is roughened or gnarled or spirally grooved. A gasket 44 is located in a groove or recess 45. A ipe 46 is connected with the opening throng the late and to a receptacle 47 A three-way va ve opens and closes the passage way throu h the pipe. When the object 50 is place on the gasket 44, the gasket is pressed down into the recess forming a flat contact surface sealing the space formed between the object and the plate. The groove 45 is so cut as to allow the gasket to spread and form a lar e contact surface and the gasket is made su ciently pliable to allow the object to be forced down on to the plate where it is held from any lateral movement, not only by the gasket, but also by the frictional engagement of the two surfaces.

The tables shown in Fig. 2 may be made rotatable for ease of manipulation of the workand various convenient devices may 40 be added to the systems and apparatus shown.

If the vacuum decreases because of un-' usual leakage, or the pumps should stop working, and, although the capacity of the system may keep the vacuum sufficiently great to enable the system to perform all of its functions for a considerable time after the unusual conditions arise, yet unless the operators receive a timely warning the vacuum may'be reduced so that work on the machinesmay be spoiled or injury done to the workman if the work is being rotated at a high speed.

In connection with the device shown in Fig. 1, the reduction of the vacuum may I so of'the vacuum. It is controlled by the difference of the pressure within the system and they atmospheric pressure. It may be made adjustable for the difierent conditions of working. Referring to Fig. 3, in which '65 it is shown, 61 is a supporting plate which is connected to the system. It is provided.

with a very small opening 62. A pipe 63 connects the plate with the system. The pipe connection may be closed and opened by means .of the'valve64. The front of the plate is provided with a gasket 65, which is located in a recess formed in the face of the plate. A small plate 66 closes the. space formed by the gasket and the plate 61. When the air in the system is exhausted, the plate 66.is pressed with more or less pressure against the gasket 65. .A tension spring is connected to the plate 66 and tends to pull the plate 66 away from' the plate 61. I have shown a spring scales 0 ,86 which is connected to the lower side of the plate 66 and will indicate the amount of the pull on the plate 66. The lower end of the spring or scales is connected to a variable tension member 67 which is adapted to 35 increase the tension at which the plate 66 will be pulled away'from the plate 61. The tension member is provided w1th a brace and a screw-threaded hook 68 and swiveledeyebolt 69. As the brace is turned the hook is drawn into the brace and the tension of the spring of the scales increased. The lower endof the brace is connected to the frame 70 which is secured to the plate 6].. The plate is limited in its downward movement by the angular posts 71. The posts-are surrounded by insulating sleeves which prevent contact with either the plate 61 or theplate 66, except who the lower plate rests on the lower ends 0 the posts. The posts 1.. are connected to the battery 72 and the'circuit of the battery is completed through the bells and theplate when the plate is drawn down to its lowest point along the-posts. In Fig. 3 the plate is shown in the position it occupies when it is drawn up b the suction of the system and in Fig. 4 is s own the position of the plate when it rests on the stops and completes-the circuit of the battery and causes the bells to ring.- When the bells ring the operators of the machines in the vicinity of the bells will be signaled that the vacuum is reducing and passed the point for safe working of the machines. The devices shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are connected to the pipe 2011f the system shown in Fig. 1 and gives the alarm in order that the. operator may stop the revolving plate and remove the work. 4

The invention is useful in many arts and is subject to diversified vpur oses and-many alterations in the parts an many features may be added without departing from the spirit of the invention and the combinations of elements set forth in the claims. 7

What I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 1.111 a holding device the combination of a plate, a gasket located on the face of the said plate, the said plate having an open- 139 face 0 ing located within the area inclosed by the gasket, a pipe connected with the said openmg and means for continuously exhausting the air through the said opening and pipe and rigidly holding the object on the said plate.

2. a plate, a gasket located on the face of the sald plate, the said plate having an opening located within the area inclosed by the gasket, a pipe connected with the said opening, a means for giving vacuum capacity connected to the said pipe, a vacuum producing means for drawing the air from the said capacity means, whereby an object will be rigidly'held upon the said plate.

3. In a holding device the combination of a plate, a gasket located on the face of the said plate, the said plate having an opening located within the area inclosed by the, gasket, a pipe connected with the said opening, a reservoir connected to the said pipe, a vacuum pump for drawing air from the said reservoir.

4. In a holding device the combination of a face plate a gasket located on the face of the said plate, an opening located in the center of the said plate, a hollow shaft connected to the said opening, a means for rotating the said shaft and face plate, a stationary pipe, a pipe coupler for connecting the said rotatable shaft and the said stationary pipe together with means for continuously drawing air through the said pipe and shaft for rigidly holding an object on the said plate.

5. In a holding device the combination of a face fplate a hollow gasket located on the the said plate, an opening located in the center of the said plate, a hollow shaft connected to the said opening, a means for rotating the said shaft and face plate, a stationary pipe, a pipe coupler for connecting the said rotatable shaft to the said stationary pipe, air through the said pipe and shaft for rigidly holding an object on the said plate.

6. In a holding device the combination of a face plate a gasket located on the face of the said plate, an opening located in the center of the said plate, a hollow shaft connected to the said opening, a means for rotating the said shaft and face plate, a stationary pipe, a pipe coupler for connecting the said rotatable shaft and the said stationary'pipe together, a means for producing vacuum capacity connected to the said pipe and means for continuously drawing air from the said capacity means for rigidly holding an object on the said plate.

7. In a holding device the combination of a face plate a gasket located on the face of thesaid plate, an openin located in the center of the said plate, a hollow shaft connected to the said opening, a means for ro- In a holding device the combination of a means for continuously drawing tating the said shaft and face plate, a stationary pipe, a pipe coupler for connecting the said rotatable shaft and the said stationary pipe together, a reservoir connected to the said pipe and a vacuum pump for continuously drawing air from the said reservoir.

8. Ina holding device a face plate having a recess, located in the said recess and an opening located within the area inclosed by the gasket, a pipe connected with the said opening and means for drawing air through the and the said pipe to draw an a said opening object to the face plate and rigidly holding the object against the plate.

9. In a holding device the combination of a face plate having a recess, a hollow gasket located in the said recess, the said plate having a roughened surface and an opening located within the area inclosed by the-gasket, a pipe connected with the said opening and means for drawing air through the spaces formed by the said roughened surface of the said plate through the said opening and the said pipe to rigidly hold the object against the said plate.

10. In a holding device the combination of a face plate having'a recess, a gasket located in the said recess, the said plate having a roughened surface and an opening located within the area inclosed by the gasket, a pipe connected with the said'opening and means for drawing air through the spaces formed by the said roughened surface of the said plate through the said opening and the said pipe to rigidly hold the object against the said plate:

11. In a holding device the combination of a face plate, a gasket carriedby the said face plate, havln an opening located within the area inclose by the said gasket, a pipe for connecting the said opening with a suction apparatus, an automatic alarm device connected to. the said pipe and adapted to produce a signal when the vacuum produced y the suction apparatus becomes less than a certain amount.

12. In a holding device thecombination of a face plate, a gasket carried by the said face plate, the said face plate having an opening located within the area inclosed by the gasket, a means for rotating the said face plate, a suction apparatus, a pipe and a coupler for connecting the said face plate with the said suction apparatus, an automatic alarm device connected to the said pipe and adapted to produce a signal when the combination of a hollow gasketthe vacuum produced by the suction apsaid seccnd face plate, a third plate located In testiniony' whereof, I havesigned my in proximity to the said gasket, a suction name tothis specification, in the presence of 1 apparetus connected to the said pipe, an two subscribing witnesses.

electric alarm adapted to be. operated by the CHARLES E. CHURCH. last named plate when the vacuum produced Witnesses: 1 s by the suction apparatus becomes less than ADOLP'I-I LAUKUB,

a certain amount. J. E. ROBERTS'.'- 

